Future of author John Updike's Berks County house uncertain

Group wants to buy property, preserve as museum

Late author John Updike's childhood home in Berks County is for sale and facing an uncertain future.

The nonprofit John Updike Society wants to buy the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer's house with a $200,000 foundation gift to preserve it as a museum and headquarters.

But that's contingent upon Shillington Borough granting a zoning variance to address potential parking and traffic concerns in the residential neighborhood. That takes time.

The house's current owner operates an advertising and marketing firm there and is moving to another location next month. He said he would also like to see it as a historic site but said he needs a sales agreement right away.

Shillington Councilman Clifford Galvin said there can be no assurances of a variance until the zoning board, then council, consider the request.

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